This year, the European Parliament adjusted its funding schedule to disburse 31 million euros to political groups every six months after the crucial June elections.
This summer’s European vote reshuffled seats, with some groups gaining seats, while others, such as the Greens and the Renew Europe Liberal Party, lost seats.
Most of these funds are distributed proportionally to the number of MPs in the group.
According to documents obtained by Euronews, the budget allocated to political organizations for the second half of 2024 (July to December) is 31 million euros.
The European People’s Party (EPP) received more than 8 million euros, the Socialist and Democratic Progressive Union (S&D) nearly 6 million euros, and the European Patriots Union 3.7 million euros.
The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Renew, the Green Party/European Union for Freedom and the Left (GUE/NGL) received around €3.5 million, €3.4 million, just over €2.3 million and €2 million, respectively.
The European Group of Sovereign States (ENS), which has just 25 members of the European Parliament, received 1.17 million euros.
“The total amount of funding allocated by the European Parliament to political organizations is around 65 million euros a year, which corresponds to an average value of around 90,000 euros for each member,” said Wouter Wolfs, a lecturer in European politics at the University of Leuven. Belgium.
Montanto presents his political position at the European Parliament in the second term of 2024. – Euronews
What is the calculation behind the payment?
European Parliament budget funds are disbursed to political bodies based on the following calculations: 97.5% will be distributed proportionally to the number of MPs and 2.5% will be distributed equally.
“The bulk of it is distributed in proportion to the number of members of a political group, so larger groups receive more funding, while smaller groups receive less,” Wolfs explained. did.
“Political groups use these funds to fund public relations activities related to their activities in the European Parliament, such as voting and legislative activities,” he said.
Division of the European Parliament into European Parliament Political Groups. – Euronews
“These expenditures are intended to cover administrative and operational costs,” the European Parliament Press Service told Euronews.
“The European Parliament’s budget is the only source of funding for political groups and non-affiliated MEPs.”
“Our group intends to use these expenditures to finance political and information activities carried out by member states as part of the political life of the European Union, as well as administrative expenditures of the Secretariat.” Renew Europe spokesperson Yannick Lord told Euronews.
Green Party officials said the funds allocated to the party would support the party’s “political priorities” of the party’s mission, such as the green transition, a more social Europe, and the fight for rights and democracy.
“We typically use allocated funds for events, administrative support, and activities related to the work of MPs fulfilling their commitments to constituents,” they explained.
What are the limits?
Conversely, this budget cannot be used to support national political parties or fund election activities.
In the past, Congress has initiated recovery proceedings where it appears these funds have been misused.
“In Denmark, the Danish People’s Party used the organization’s funds to support its Facebook campaign in the run-up to the Danish national elections,” Wolfs said.
In France, the far-right National Front, now known as the National Rally, has also been accused of misusing group funds for national political parties and national candidates, it added.
In addition to the 31 million euros allocated to political organizations, the European Parliament is providing funding through another envelope, this time to hire assistants to parliamentarians.
The agency also uses other funds to fund European political parties, not to be confused with political groups, and pays political advisers to support the group’s activities.
“Political organizations play an important role in decision-making processes across Europe,” Wolfs said.
“They are responsible for legislation, and they are responsible for the scrutiny and control of the European Commission. It is therefore important that they have sufficient resources.”
